Girl students of Dharmapura Kittur Rani Chennamma Residential School present karate demonstration

Mysore/Mysuru: In a bid to provide complete self-defence training to over 5,178 girl students including 2,316 students from Social Welfare Department, 1,862 from Backward Classes Welfare Department and students from various residential Schools and post-matric girls hostels, to ward off attackers and criminals, ‘Obavva Art of Self-Defence Training,’ a martial arts training, was formally inaugurated at Government Post Matric Boys’ Hostel at Nazarbad in city this morning.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had launched the training programme in Bengaluru on Sunday.

‘Obavva Art of Self-Defence Training’ has been jointly initiated by the Social Welfare Department, Backward Classes Welfare Department and girls hostels that come under Karnataka Residential Education Institution.

Speaking after inaugurating the self-defence training, MLC C.N. Manjegowda said that girls have more commitment than boys and added that great women personalities such as Onake Obavva and former Prime Minister late Indira Gandhi have been role models for many women.

Pointing out that atrocities on women had increased in recent days, Manjegowda said that it is the right time for girls to get themselves trained in martial arts and added, “If karate is for self-defence, education is for life. If my mother had not encouraged me to study, I would have not been standing in front of you all today,” he said.

Meanwhile, girl students of Dharmapura Kittur Rani Chennamma Residential School presented a karate demonstration on the occasion.

Social Welfare Department Joint Director Malathi, District Backward Classes Welfare Officer H.S. Bindiya, Corporator Satish, Khadi Board Chairman Krishnappagowda, MyLAC Chairman N.V. Phaneesh, Zilla Panchayat Deputy Secretary Premkumar, Mysore Karate Association Secretary Siddaraju and others were present.